Easter 2015

Christian Holy Land Tour 8 day

Live the past and walk the same paths that Jesus walked in this all encompassing tour through the land of the Bible. This itinerary is ideal for first time Protestant or other non-denominational Christian groups seeking to follow in the footsteps of Jesus and to touch the ancient stones of Israel as well as experience the modern country as it is today.

Christian Holy Land Tour - 8 Days

Day 1.

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport where you will be met and transfered to your hotel. Overnight.

Day 2. Jaffa / Caesarea / Mount Carmel / Druze Villages / Acre

After breakfast, visit the ancient Joppa (Jaffa): here was the house of Simon the Tanner (Apostles 10: 9-16) and the place of the Miracle of the resurrection of Tabita (Apostles 9: 36-43).

After the visit drive North to Caesarea Maritima. Visit the Roman Theater, the Herod's Palace, the Palace of the Roman Procurator (Apostles 23: 23 and Apostles 26: 23 - Paul; Apostles 10: 20-48 - Peter and Cornelius), the Amphitheater and the Crusaders' City and Harbor. Proceed to Mount Carmel to visit the Monastery of the Muhraka, where Elijah fought with the Baal priests. From the roofs of this Monastery, we have a beautiful view of the Jezreel Plain.

Through the Druze villages, Daliyat el Carmel and Usifiya, we proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view of the city and harbor.

Proceed to Acre to visit the old city with its city walls, the Knights' Halls and the Harbor. Through the Galilee proceed to Tiberias for overnight.

Day 3. Galilee

After breakfast, boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus walked on the water (Matthew 14: 22-23). The ride will end at Ginnosar, to visit the Ancient Boat from the time of Jesus that was found nearby. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5: 7) where we shall visit the heptagonal church that was built by the Italian architect Berluzzi.

Proceed to Tabgha, for a visit of the Church of the Loaves and the Fish (Matthew 14: 14-34).

Driving along the Northern shores of the Sea of Galilee we shall reach Capernaum, the town of Jesus, where he lived in the house of Peter performing from there his miracles and healings (Matthew 4: 13, Matthew 8: 14-15). Through the Golan Heights, proceed to Banyas, the ancient Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16: 13-20) one of the main sources of the Jordan River.

Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 4. Galilee / Beit Shean / Beit Alpha

After breakfast, drive to the Southern part of the See of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal site.

Proceed to the ancient town of Beit Shean with its new excavations of the Roman and Byzantine periods, then to Beit Alfa with its ancient synagogue with marvelous mosaics inside.

Drive on to Gideon Springs, where Gideon gathered the sons of Israel to fight the Medianates (Judges 7: 1).

Proceed to Jerusalem for overnight.

Day 5. Jerusalem - the Old City

After breakfast, ascend the Mount of Olives for a wonderful panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem with the Temple Mount.

Walking down the Mount of Olives, we shall reach the Church of Dominus Flevit (Luke 19: 41-44) for the visit and proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus was arrested (Matthew 26: 36-58), to see the old olive trees and visit the Basilica of the Agony.

Driving through the Kidron Valley, we shall reach the Dung Gate and enter the Old City to visit the Western Wall (or Wailing Wall) - the holiest place for the Jews - walk a part of the Via Dolorosa and, via the exotic bazaar, get to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

Proceed through the newly rebuilt Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo to the Mount Zion to visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper.

Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 6. Jerusalem - the New City / Bethlehem *

After breakfast, drive to the Model of Jerusalem as it was at the time of the Second Temple. Proceed to Yad Vashem, the Memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, and then to the Synagogue at the Hadassa Hospital where are the famous stained glass windows of Marc Chagall.

Drive to the Israel Museum with its Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea scrolls are kept, then see the Menorah in front of the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament - and proceed to Bethlehem * to visit the Church of the Nativity (Luke 2: 1-7).

Return to the hotel for overnight.

Day 7. Massada / Dead Sea

After breakfast drive via the Good Samaritan Inn (Luke 8: 25-37) to the mountain fortress of Massada, stronghold of the Jews in the war against the Romans. Ascend to the fortress by cable car to visit the palaces of Herod the Great with its Roman baths and pools. Descend for a possible "dip" and "float" in the salty water of the Dead Sea, the worlds lowest place. On the way back to Jerusalem, stop in Qumran - the city of the Essens - where the Dead Sea scrolls were found in a cave by a shepherd. Overnight in Jerusalem.